Golf practicing machine



Sept. 2, 1952 c. R. WAGNER 2,608,864

GOLF PRACTICING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Cu/Pr/s Mum/5R A TTORNY.

Sept. 2, 1952 c. R. WAGNER GOLF PRIACTICING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed July 25, 1948 Sept. 2, 1952 c. R. WAGNER GOLF PRACTICING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 23, 1948 R. 7 m M Hrll/lll M I V W l ll "a W. a ,4 F n W EEF IE m %IIIIII// n...

E Ll

CURTIS 1?. M/IGA/fl? WWW A TTO/PNE Y SeptQZ, 1952 c. R. WAGNER 2,608,864

GOLF PRACTICING, MACHINE Filed July 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. Cairn/Q WAG/v0? w BY 16" J M W ATTOANEY.

Patented Sept. 2, 1952 I GOLF PRACTICING MACHINE Surtis R. Wagner, Denver, 0010., assigncr, by mcsnc assignments, to Golf Unlimited, Inc., Denver, 0010., a corporation of Colorado Application J uly 23, 1948, Serial No. 40,387

15 Claims. (C1. 73-379) machine that can be employed inside of a buildin an amusement resort, or on the club grounds, and which shall be of such construction that a player can hit a ball in the same manner as he would on the actual golf course and which will indicate the strength of the stroke and will also show the angle of hoist and slice. 7

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of this type that can be readily connected with an indicator board provided with will stand up against hard usage and resist strong destructive forces. 7

A further object of the invention is to produce amachine of the type which shall be so designed that the mechanism that measures the strength of the stroke shall not be affected in any material manner by friction.

A still further object is to produce a machine of. the type specified in which the strength of the stroke shall be measured by means that do not employ springs for this purpose.

The above and any other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of the construction and arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, andfor this purpose, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which: Figure 1 "is a top plan view of the machine; Figure 2 is a side elevationthereof;

Figure 3 is a section takenon line 33, Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View looking upwardly through the plane designated by reference numeral 4; I

Figure 5- is a section taken on line 55, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-t, Figure 4-;

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 1-1, Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8, Figure 4-; l

.bar 25.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line 99, Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section taken on line |i|l0, Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawing, reference nu'meral l5 designates a base on which the machine rests and to which it is attached by means of bolts i6 asindicated in Figures 5, 6 and '7. The machine consists of an elongated housing having sides ll, ends [8 and a top I9. The top has a depressed area like that designated by reference numeral 20, and is provided with a central elongated opening 2|. Ends l8 are provided on their inner surfaces with lugs 22 for the reception of bolts 16. Positioned within the housing is the operating mechanism which will now be described in detail.

Reference numeral 23 designates the side members of a rectangular frame. One end of members 23 are connected by means of a bar 24, and the other ends are connected by The rectangular frame that has just been described has trunnions 25 that extend outwardly from the side members and are mounted for rotation in bearings 2l positioned on the inner surface of sides ll. It will be observed that the trunnions are positioned nearer the lefthand end of the frame than the righthand end when viewed as in Figure 4. Positioned on the inside of the rectangular frame that has justbeen described is a second rectangular framecomprising side members 28 and ends'29 that are provided with trunnions 3c and 31, the former being mounted for rotation in a ball bearing 33 in bar 24 and the latter in a similar bearing in bar 25, as shown in Figure 3. 'Irunnion 3E3 terminates in a block 32 and trunnion 3| projects forwardly as shown in Figure 3 and has a brake drum 3 3 with which a brake band 35 cooperates. is forced against the drum by means of springs 36 as shown in Figure 4 and is held against rotation by means of an arm 31. A counter weight 38' is attached to the forward end of trunnion 3i and can be moved longitudinally so as to assist in balancing the frame comprising members 23.

member terminating in a rear-wardly opening -V-groove 39 whose function will appear ently.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, it will be observed that two short angle iron brackets 49' and M are secured to the top of the housing by means of suitable bolts 42. The vertical side of each bracket has two pair of inwardly projecting pins 43 forming guides for plate M. This plate has a pair of spaced lugs 45 to which connecting rod' lt is pivotally connected. The other end of the connecting rod is pivoted at 41 to the end of a crank arm 48 that is fastened to shaft 49. Shaft 49 is mounted in bearings in the ends of brackets 50.-

pres- The brake band Attached to the block 32 is a.

Attached to shaft 49, at the lefthand end thereof when viewed as in Figure 8, is a gear segment 5| that is in mesh with pinion 52 on the end of shaft 53 of the selsyn motor 54. A switch 55 is secured to the inner surface of side I! by means of a bracket 56. Switch 55 has a spring contact 5'! that is engaged by arm 58 on gear segment SI for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. Shaft 49 is provided with a crank arm 59 (Fig. 9) whose end is connected at 66 with the outer end of piston rod El that is connected with a piston in hydraulic cylinder 62 that is pivotally connected with wall [8 by lugs 63. Cylinder 62 is part of a hydraulic dash pot or brake whose function will appear later. A third crank arm 64 (Figure 9) is attached to shaft 49 near its top when viewed as in Figure 4. A bracket 55 has its upper end secured to the under surface of top [9. A lever 66 is connected at a point 61 near its center, to bracket 65 and has one end connected to the end of crank arm 64 by means of a connecting rod 68 as shown most clearly in Figure 9. A push bar 69 has its lower end pivoted to lever 66 at Ti) and extends through an opening in top H! terminating in an enlarged head H. The player exerting pressure on head H, with his foot, rocks lever 68 about its pivot 61 and turns shaft 49 through a small angle, in a counterclockwise direction, when viewed as in Figure 9 and in a clockwise direction when viewed as in Figure 10. When shaft 49 is turned by the downward movement of push bar 69, piston rod 61 will be pulled outwardly from cylinder 62 by the action of crank arm 59 and gear segment 5! (Fig. 10) turned through a corresponding angle. Spring 72 that connects pivot 41 with end wall l8 (Fig. 4) is under tension and is further tensioned when shaft 48 is turned by the downward movement of the push bar and exerts a sufficient torque force on shaft 49 to return it and the parts attached thereto to the position shown in Figure 9 when the pressure on H is removed. Referring now to Figure 3, it will be observed that when shaft 49 and crank arm 48 are turned in a clockwise direction, connecting rod 46 moves plate 44 towards the left into the V-groove 39 in the member attached to block 33 on trunnion 38, thereby bringing the V-groove into parallel relation with itself and frame 28, 29 into horizontal position. The movement of plate 44 into the V-groove also serves to bring the frame that tilts on trunnions 26 into horizontal position. A downward pressure on bush bar 69 therefore brings the two frames into operative position for another play. Friction brake 34, 35 serves to hold the smaller frame from accidental rotation about its trunnions and a friction device comprising a friction head 13 carried by bracket M (Figures 4, '7 and 9) and urged against the inner surface of bar 23 by spring 15 serves to hold the larger frame from accidental movement about trunnions 28 after it has been reset by the action of plate 44.

Attached to or carried by the lower end of bracket 65 is a normally open switch comprising contacts I6 and T1, the latter is positioned in line with push bar 69 which engages it in its downward movement and closes an electric circuit to a counting device which records the number of hits.

Shaft '18 is journaled in suitable hearings in frame members 28 (Figure 6) and carries an arm 19 to the outer end of which a golf ball 80 or a rubber ball of the same size and shape e tate;

as a golf ball is attached by suitable means. A selsyn motor 8| is attached to shaft 18 and serves to bring arm 19 and ball into the position shown in Figure 3 whenever the parts are reset by the downward movement of the plunger pedal which, as above explained, turns selsyn motor 54 that is operatively connected with motor 8!. Member 82 is a counteweight compensating for the weight of motor 8|. A oneway ratchet device between shaft 18 and motor 8| permits the shaft to turn freely in response to a hit by a golf club.

The force of the hit, which is a measure of the distance the ball would travel, is measured by the number of times shaft 18 and arm 19 .with ball 88 attached thereto rotates. After being hit the ball and shaft rotate very fast and it is necessary to provide a mechanism for counting and registering the number of turns the shaft makes.

Bars 28 are provided with oppositely positioned openings 84 between which ball 88 moves once in each turn about shaft 18. An incandescent lamp 85 is positioned in a small housing on the outside of one of the frame members 28 so as to direct a beam of light into the corresponding opening in the opposite frame member, a photo cell 86 is secured to the outside of the opposite frame member 28 in position to receive light from lamp 85. The light from lamp 85 will be interrupted each time ball 80 passes between holes 84. A suitable counting mechanism is operated by current from the photo cell. The counting mechanism has not been illustrated in detail as it is very intricate but may be considered as being a pointer moving over a scale with a step by step motion imparted to it by a magnet energized from the photo cell.

The distance that a ball will travel is not only directly proportional to the force of theimpact with the club, but is also dependent on the angle that the component of the force makes with a horizontal plane. In the machine illustrated in the drawings the larger frame is connected with the base by pivots 26, that are spaced from the axis of shaft 18. As shown in Figure 4, the two axes are in the same horizontal plane but in different vertical planes. If the impact force is exerted in a direction parallel with the common axial plane of the trunnions and of shaft 118, there will be no tendency to turn the frames about the axis of their trunnions, but if the force is directed upwardly or downwardly relative to such a plane, the larger frame will turn about its trunnion axis. The angular movement of the large frame about its trunnion axis is a measure reflecting the value and the direction of the force. Means has been provided for indicating the vertical angular movement of the large frame which means will now be described by reference to Figures 3 and 4.

From Figure 3 it will be seen that a rigid bar 81 projects from one of the side members 23 of the larger frame. A switch arm 88 is p ted at 89 for movement over a number of contacts 90 arranged in an arc concentric with pivot 89. A link 91 connects the end of bar 81 with a short arm fixed to the switch arm and therefore, whenever the large frame turns about its trunnions the angular extent of such movement will be indicated by the position of the switch arm. The vertical position of the switch arm 88 represents the horizontal position of the large frame. The position of the switch arm is shown on a suitable indicator by means of a series of lamps conhected-withthe switch-inthe manner shown: in: Figure -3-',- the lamps beingnumbered in order fromthe center as shown. 4

The 'amount of in or outslice', or, in otherwords;-the"angle of the impact-force relative-to a verticalplane passing through trunnions 30 and 3l which tends to turn the small frame'about' its-trunnion axis isindicatedby a switch similar to the one just described which is illustrated in Figure -55 -Referring now to -Figure-5, it will be seen that a rigid arm or bar 92 is attached at one endto trunnion-3l and extendslaterally, a switch v comprisin aswitch arm 88a-is pivoted to frame member 25 for movement over the arcuate row of contacts 99a. with thelateral arm of the pivoted switch arm byali'nk Sia. Switch arm 88a and contacts 900% The end of bar 92 isconnectedare connected with indicator lamps-'in themannershown in Figure '3.

Operation 7 The machine illustrated in the drawings and above described is positioned=on a horizontal base l5 and the parts are brought into operative-or setposition by exerting a downward pressure on head ll of push bar 59in the manner above ex plained. -Ball 8i is now in the position shown in Figure 3. The player hits the ball on the right I side; when viewed as in Figure 3. The i-mpactof the club sets ball 86, arm 19 and shaft 18 turning. T

Each time the ball passes between the lamp and the photo cell, it interrupts the light beam, thereby operating the counter. counter has been indicated by a rectangle as its specific construction constitutes-a separate invention'. The number of complete turns that In Figure '7, thethe ball makes'is an-approximatemeasure of the impactforce and serves to compare the forces of 3 separate strokes. force is parallel with a plane containing the axis of shaft'iB and the axis of trunnions 26 the tendency to turn the frames about trunnions 26 If the direction of the impact is a minimum, being due solely; to the torque due to the lateral displacement of the ball and the component-that will move ball 86 .to either side of the vertical when viewed as in Figure 6 and the value of such lateral force is indicated by the switch shown in Figure 5;

After each stroke the parts are returned to set position by a downward movement of push bar 69.

In the drawing a specific structure has been shown. It is evident that changes may be made in some of the elements and it is to be understood that applicantreserves the right to substitute for any one of the elements a mechanically equivalentelement, all within the scope of the appended claims. 1 r a What is claimed as new-is:

1. A golf game-practicingdevice of the type comprising a base,- a gimbal, the outer frame of the gimbal having' 'trunnions journaled in the base, the inner frame of the gimbal being journaled in the outer frame for rocking movement about an axis perpendicular to the trunnion axis of the outer frame, a shaft journaled in the inner frame for rotation about an axis parallel with the trunnion axis of th nouter-frame, an: arm project ing radially'from the 'shaft, positionediin:the in ner'f-rameEa ball-attached to the outenendmf'th arm, the axis, the shaft sbeing displaced :fro the trunnion" axis of the outer frame' in theifdi rection-of theaxis of the tr-unnions of theinner r frame-whereby impact forces applied to the-ball i in directions I displaced "from -the horizontal wil rock" the outer frame about its trunnions' an components of said forces angular-lydisplac'e from a verticalplane perpendicular-to the -axis of the shaftwill rock the inner frame about"- its a trunnions, -means comprising' electrically op.-' erated indicators associated with the'frames for visually indicating the extent of *theira gu1afdisplacement due to impactfmeansforregister?-- ing the-number of turnsof theshaftduetoeach impact blow, -means-for returning the two frames to normal position after each operation; andelec' tromagnetic means for returning' the shaft and arm to normal position aftereach operation;

2. A golf. game practicing device comprising a base, a gimbal comprising an-inner andart-outerframe mounted'on the'base, the outer framehaving aligned trunnions journaledin the .base; the" inner frame having aligned trunnions journaled in the outer frame iforrockingmovement on an axis'perpendicularto the trunnion axis 10f the outer frame, a shaft journaledin-theinnerframe for rotation abouta horizontal 'axisparallel with the trunnionaxis of-the outerframegan arm-proeii jecting radially from thesha'ft at a point within?- the inner frame and a ball'se'curedqto theendof l the arm, the ball being normally positionedabove the frame in position to be hitbyia golf club-,"t'hei ball and shaft being rotatable in response'to the imp-act force, means for registering thenumber of turns made by the shaft and ballin response" to each impact; thereby measuring the force" thereof, means comprising the-.outer frame and" an indicating device connected 'therewithfor' measuring; the vertical component of 'theimpa'ct force, means comprising the innerframe' andan indicating. device connected therewith'for measuring the horizontal component. of thejimpact force, and means comprising an electric'motor. means connected'with' the shaft'for moving the ball into operative position after-it has lspent the" energy imparted to it by the impact force;

3. A golf game practicing'device comprising in combination, an oblong base of inverted pan form" whose'upper wall has an elongated opening, substantially rectangular gimbal comprising anfl outer and an inner frame the outer .framebeing' mounted for tilting movement about transversely extending pivots, the inner frame being. posi'a' tioncd within the outer ,l frame and mounted, thereon for pivotal movement about an axis 'pers. pendicular to the pivotal axis of the outer frame, the two frames being movable relative to thebase, the inner frame having a transverse shaft pivoted. in its side members for rotation on an axis-parallel with the trunnion axis of the outer frame, an arm extending radially from the shaft, between: the n sides of the smaller frame, a ball attached to the. end of the radialarm, the ball, when'in operative position, being positionedabove thetop ofthe base, the arm and ballrotating in a plane parallel with the elongated opening inthe base means; responsive to thetilting of the outer frame-for; measuring and indicating the angulartvalue of saidtilt,:means responsive to the'tilting. of the; inner frame relative to the outer frame for :in:-;. dicating the angular value of said last named tilt, means comprising a photo cell, a lamp and an electronic counter for counting the number of times the shaft and ball turn in response to an impact force, means for moving the two frames ofthe gimbal to normal horizontal position comprising a member having angularly related flat surfacesconnected with one of the trunnions of the inner frame, said surfaces being oppositely inclined to the axes of thetrunnions, a horizontal plate slideably connected with the base for engagement with one of said surfaces, and means 1 in combination, an oblong inverted pan-like base having its top provided with a longitudinally extending elongated opening, a gimbal comprising two oblong frames of different sizes, the smaller being positioned in the larger, the outer of which is pivoted to the sides of the base and the inner of which is positioned within the outer and pivoted to the ends of the larger frame, a shaft jour-' nalled'in the sides of the inner frame, an arm extending radially from the shaft, a ball secured to the end of the arm, the arm being of such length that it will extend through said opening and the ball will be positioned wholly above the base when the arm is in upright position, the ball, arm and shaft being rotatable in response to an impact force, means comprising a lamp positioned on one side of the path of the ball, a photo cell positioned on the other side of the path and an electric counter for counting the number of times the ball passes between the lamp and the photo cell in response to an impact force, and an electromagnetic device, for returning the ball to operative position with the ball above the base.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which means is provided for measuring the angle of tilt of the outer frame relative to the base, and means for measuring the angle of tilt of the inner frame relative to the outer.

8. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which means is provided for simultaneously moving the two frames into coplanar relation and for moving the outer frame into a position parallel with the base.

9. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which a friction element secured to the base is in engagement with the outer frame and a friction ele-v ment carried by the outer frame is in engagement with the inner frame to resist accidental movement of said frames about their pivots.

10. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which each frame of the gimbal has a counterweight adjustably connected therewith.

11. A golf practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a base, a gimbal comprising an outer and an inner frame, the outer frame having trunnions journaled on the base, the inner frame having trunnions iournaled in the outer frame for rocking movement about an axis per pendicular to the trunnions on the outer frame, a shaft journaled in the inner frame for rotation about an axis parallel with the trunnion axis of the outer frame, said shaft having a radial arm having a ball attached to its end, the shaft and arm being mounted to turn when the ball is hit, means for counting the number of turns made by the shaft in response to said impact, means comprising the outer gimbal frame for gauging the vertical impact angle, above and below a horizontal plane, means comprising the inner gimbal frame for gauging the lateral impact angle with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the shaft, and electromagnetic means for resetting the ball in operative position after each operation.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11 in which means is provided for simultaneously moving the two frames into coplanar relation and for moving the outer frame into a position parallel with the base.

13. A'device in accordance with claim 11 in which a friction element secured to the base is in engagement with the outer frame and a friction element carried by the outer frame is in engagement with the inner frame to resist accidental movement of said frames about their pivots.

14. A device in accordance with claim 11 in which each frame of the gimbal has a counterweight adjustably connected therewith.

15. A golf practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a base, a gimbal comprising an outer and an inner frame, the outer frame having trunnions journaled on the base, the inner frame having trunnions journaled in the outer frame for rocking movement about an axis perpendicular to the trunnions on the outer frame, a shaft journaled in the inner frame for rotation about an axis parallel with the trunnion axis of the outer frame, said shaft having a radial arm having a ball attached to its end, the shaft and arm being mounted to turn when the ball is hit, means for counting the number of turns made by the shaft in response to said impact, means comprising the outer gimbal frame for gauging the vertical impact angle above and below a horizontal plane, means comprising the inner gimbal frame for gauging the lateral impact angle with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the shaft, electromagnetic means for resetting the ball in operative position after each operation, a switch mechanism operatively connected with each gimbal frame, each switch mechanism having a pivoted switch arm, means operatively connecting the arms with their respective frames for commensurate angular movement, a plurality of switch contacts associated with each arm over which the arms move and an electrically operable indicator connected with each set of switch contacts for visually indicating the angular movements of the frames about their trunnions, when the ball is hit.

CURTIS R. WAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 888,660 Sears et al May 26, 1908 1,529,933 Stokoe Mar. 17, 1925 1,680,897 Matteson Aug. 14, 1928 1,932,049 Ryan Oct. 24, 1933 2,346,864 Packard Apr. 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,629 Great Britain 1902 

